7 Packing Ideas for Travel: How to Be Organized & Efficient

Packing Techniques for the Unorganized

Packing seems to be everyone's least favorite part of travelling, but not mine. Me? I pack weeks before I leave for a trip, and then I pack again and again until everything is just perfect. Lucky for you, that means I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and I'm here to share them with you.

So, without further delay, here are my seven best packing tips.

1. Pack Multipurpose Everything

My ultimate packing goal is to have nothing in my bag with only one purpose. If something in there only has one purpose, it had better be adjustable, reversible, foldable, or very, very small.

In my bag, I have:

• a reversible camp pillow/dry bag
• a multipurpose flashlight, power bank, and hand warmer
• a laundry bag that doubles as a wall hanging for my VIPKID online classroom
• much more!

The more multipurpose items you can find to pack, the fewer things you need to pack. After all, the ultimate goal of packing is simply to pack as little as possible - but also have everything you need!

2. Invest in Tech-Savvy Clothes

Guys, we live in the future. Clothes these days can be stain-proof, smell-proof, or waterproof, made out of lightweight fabric that keeps you cool or keeps you warm, and most importantly, keeps you comfy. And all of this can be made in an environmentally friendly way.

Technical fabrics have changed the face of travel. Why should you drag heavy, bulky clothing with you while backpacking Southeast Asia? Why should you have to do laundry any more than absolutely necessary while travelling? The answer: You shouldn't!

So, what should you look for?

• Activewear: Activewear is usually made of quick-drying fabrics that take body temperature into consideration. Anyone who has ever tried to hang dry clothes in a humid climate will appreciate this one.
• Workwear: Clothes made for work are made to be used! They are made to deal with tough environments, spills, and general abuse - all things that one finds travelling.
• Travel wear: This one might be obvious, but with the advent of crowd-funding platforms and online shops, travel wear is becoming more and more popular. That is great news for use, fellow travellers!

3. Keep Your Stuff Dry - And Organized!

This is a hack I came across kind of accidentally. Spending my summers in a rural area means that I get to do a lot of camping, hiking, and canoeing and that means that I have a lot of gear, including dry bags. I had so many that when I went travelling that I just started using them for organization instead of buying new packing cubes.

Turns out, they have some benefits.

• They are waterproof. That's the entire point of them, so they are very good at being waterproof.
• They're airtight. Being waterproof also means that they are also airtight. A great way to save space in your bag is to roll up your clothes in a dry bag and roll out all the air.
• They're organizational tools. I like to put all of my socks or all of my t-shirts in separate bags so I don't have to rummage through everything to find one item.
• They're good for doing laundry. Dry bags make an excellent portable washing machine. Simply add some clothes, warm water, and laundry soap or Dr. Bronner's, close it up, and shake, shake, shake. It is way easier than hand washing everything separately when there is no other option.

4. Bring Toiletries in Bar Form

I love shampoo bars. They take up less space in my bag and I save a lot of plastic by using them instead of liquid shampoo in plastic bottles. If you're flying on a plane, this can save you the trouble of a huge mess. Despite the cabin and luggage storage having some pressurization, plastic shampoo and lotion bottles still occasionally pop open and leak. Bars eliminate this issue!

This year, I realised that I could get almost all of my toiletries in bar form: shampoo, conditioner, soap, face wash, and even lotion! This means even more space in my bag and even less plastic.

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The biggest problem I had to solve when I switched all my toiletries to bars was how to store them. The best way that I found? Beeswax wraps. They keep your bars dry while still being breathable and they take up almost no space.

5. Bring All Your Books

The one thing I have the biggest issue with when it comes to downsizing for packing is books. Ideally, I would like to travel with a couple of novels, one non-fiction book, a journal, a sketchpad, and a calendar. Obviously, this would be somewhat impractical. That's where the world of technology comes in handy.

Personally, I use three devices for books. That may seem like a lot, but only one of them is exclusively for books.

• Firstly, I use my e-reader. It might be obvious by now, but these are awesome. I can carry thousands of books in a device that's smaller than a paperback. It's a no-brainer.
• I also use my phone. I use a fabulous app called Libby which allows me to download ebooks from my friendly, local library. It's awesome.
• Finally, I use my combo tablet/laptop with my trusty stylus as a notebook, journal, sketchbook, and everything else I used to use paper for.

Technology, am I right? I would love to always read real paper books and have the capacity to carry around all the writing and art supplies in the world, but technology has given me the next best thing.

6. Keep Your Stuff Safe

There is very little point in carefully packing all your belongings if you are going to lose them. And while most of the time your stuff will be safe around trustworthy people, it's always better to err on the side of caution.

I have two tips for this topic.

1. Bring a backup wallet! I repeat, bring a backup wallet! If you have ever lost a debit card while abroad, you know what a terrible hassle it is to have it replaced. Pack an extra.
2. Bring a personal safe. I recommend the slash-proof, lock-up totes from Loctite, but they come in all forms.

7. Stop Before Your Bag Is Full

Finally, the most important packing tip of all: Do not fill your suitcase or backpack all the way. Leave a little room. When you are packing and unpacking constantly, you won't want to struggle with bursting zippers, trust me.

Alright friends, you're all ready for your next adventure. I hope these tips helped! Bon voyage.

More Packing Tips

• How to Avoid Wrinkles When Packing Clothes
  Need to learn how to pack your bag efficiently? This tutorial gives tips to avoid those annoying creases in clothes and save space in your luggage, too!
• Tips for Packing Light When Travelling
  If you want to travel light, the secret is to pack smart. These tips will show you how.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

© 2019 Matilda Woods